Snatch-hook.



No. 674,462. 'Patented ma 2|, I901. w T. GERMANY.

SNATCH HOOKI (Application filed Jan. 4, 1961.

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT QEEICE.

WILLIE T. GERMANY, OF RUTH, MISSISSIPPI.

.SNATCH-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 674,462, dated May 21, 1901. Application filed January 4:, 1901. Serial No. 42,040- (No model.)

To all whom, it wea concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIE T. GERMANY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ruth, in the county of Lincoln and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Snatch-Hooks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same.

This invention relates to snatch-hooks in general, and more particularly to that class used for hitching a snatch-team to a load. In the use of a wheeled scraper in excavating a snatch-team is employed in the filling of the scraper, after which the snatch-team is disconnected and the wheel-team hauls the scraper, with its load, to the dump.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a cheap and simple form of snatchhook, through the medium of which the snatch-team may be quickly and easily connected to the pole of the scraper and may be disconnected even when the snatch-team is pulling, so that it is not necessary to stop the scraper to unhitch the snatch-team nor to even slow up the snatch-team, further objects and advantages of the invention being evident from the following description.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the hook having the snatch draft-chain connected therewith, said hook being engaged with the eye at the end of the pole of the scraper. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the casing of the hook and showing the hook and latch in elevation, the'disen gaged positions of the hook and latch being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1 through the rear portion of the casing of the hook and showing the tubular guideway for the bolt. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the blank from which the casing is formed. I

Referring now to the drawings, in the-formation of the present device a blank 5, of sheet metal, is provided, which blank is a quadrilateral and the corners of which are rounded off, as shown. This blank 5 is folded is pivoted a hook 10.

to form a casing of U-shaped cross-section,

comprising side plates 6 and 7, havinga connecting-web 8, and between the side plates 6 and 7 at the forward end of the casing there This book 10 when in its operative position is adapted to lie with its stem 11 within the inclosure of the casing and with the bill 12 lying above the casing and directed rearwardly thereof. About midway of the ends of the casing there is disposed a transverse rivet 13, which acts to hold the side plates of the casing against separation, and the under side of this rivetthat is, the side next to the web of the casing-is flattened, so as to form between it and the web a guideway 14, for a purpose to be presently explained. The upper edges of the side plates 6 and 7 of the casing are bent inwardly at the rear end of the casing, so as to inclose a split tubular guideway 15 between these inwardly-bent portions and the web of the casing, and in this tubular guideway there is disposed a slidable bolt 16, the forward end of which is disposed slidably beneath the rivet 13, said bolt being adapted for slidable movement into and out of engagement with the rear end of the stem of the hook. Theengaging portion of the bolt consists of an upwardly-extending finger 17, having a hook 18 at its upper extremity, which is adaptend of the stem of the hook, this stem being recessed, as shown, to give a flat and efficient bearing-surface for the hook of the finger. To hold the finger normally and yieldably projected to engage the stem of the hook 10, a helical spring 19 is disposed within the guideway 15 and rests at one end against the rear end of the body of the bol while its opposite end is disposed against a plug 20, which is seated fixedly in the rear of the guideway 15. To draw the bolt rearward'ly and disengage the finger from the hook 10, a depending lug 21 is formed upon the body of the bolt and projects through a slot 22 in the bottom of the casing, and this lug is perforated for engagement of a cord 23. By drawing upon the cord the bolt is retracted and the hook 10 is released and permitted to reverse.

The snatch-chain is engaged with a ring 25, swiveled to a stem 27 of a second ring 28, which is engaged through alining perforations in the side plates 6 and 7.

The operation of the device is as follows: The snatch-chain beingconnected with the casing, as above mentioned, and being connected also with the singletree of the snatchteam, the cord 23 is attached at its free end to the belt of the driver of the snatch-team and the hook 10 is latched in its operative position. At the proper time the hook 10 is engaged with the pole of the scoop and the snatch-team is worked. When the work is at an end, and without stopping either the wheel-team or the snatch-team, the operator or driver of the snatch-team draws upon the cord 23, retracting the bolt and releasing hook 10, when the pull of the snatch-team reverses the hook in the casing and the hook is disengaged from the pole-ring. As the cord 23 is attached to the belt of the driver, it serves as a means for raising the snatch-hook from the ground Without requiring stooping by the driver. When the hook is to be again engaged, it is reversed in its casing and snaps into engagement with the retaining-finger.

It will of course be understood that in practice various modifications of the specific construction shown may be made and that any suitable materials and proportions may be used for the various parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is- A device of the class described comprising a casing consisting of a plate bent upon itself to form side plates and a connecting-web, the side plates being bent toward each other at one end of the casing to inclose a guideway, a rivet passed through the side plates and spaced forwardly from said guideway to form a second guideway,a bolt disposed with its end portions in the guideways and having a lug projecting through the casing, a latch-finger upon the bolt, a hook pivoted within the easing and having a stem disposed for engagement by the latch-finger when lying in the casing, to hold the hook in operative position, means for holding the bolt with the finger normally engaged, and means engaged with the lug for retracting the bolt to move the finger and release the book.

In testimony whereof I hereunto sign my name, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses,- on the 16th day of November, 1900.

WILLIE T. GERMANY;

Witnesses: D. W. C. TILLOTSON, W. D. KING. 

